Thanks to MusketeerAdventure, TheseWordsAreUnspoken, dg101 and wildcat717.
To MusketeersAdventure: I haven't forgotten about the book, but I am afraid that you have to wait. There will be the bonus chapter at the end, with resolving. XD
Diclaimer: Don't own The Musketeers.
Aramis woke up and opened his eyes. He turned to the other side of the bed. It was empty.
"Grace?" Aramis thought for a while, if he only dreamed about events from the night.
"Here." voice came with a hint of a smile from the other side of the room. Gracelyn stood at the window and staring at the morning sky. She felt happier than many past years.
"I see that you already get dressed." Aramis did not miss this fact and felt the small sting of disappointment. Then he got up and began to dress himself.
"Not all of us are partial to late getting up." Gracelyn replied and smiled when she felt how Aramis hugged her from behind. She turned to him and gave hands around his neck.
"I think."Aramis began, and mischievous grin appeared on his face. "Man needs a long rest after a hard exercise."
"Are you suggesting something, sir?" Grace scowled, but still had joy in the eyes. "Does this behavior fit in the society of noble lady?"
"Certainly not!" Aramis looked scandalized and retreated two steps. "I am bagging for your remission." Taking off his hat and made a curtsey. Grace came to him and caught him by the shoulders.
"The remission was granted." she said and then smiled gleefully. "But I am curious to see if the bow will do the trick on Athos."
Aramis ruffled his hair with hands and looked contrite. "I'm guessing that he must know, doesn't he?"
"Well," Gracelyn tried to look thoughtfully and after a moment said "Sure he does, you silly. We are talking about Athos. The chances that he does not notice are small and even smaller when you will walk around him as frightened puppy."
"The frightened puppy? Me? I am not afraid." Aramis tried to defend, but he knew that this battle will not win.
"So you won't mind to tell him?" Gracelyn asked sweetly.
"Of course not. But do we not wait until he wakes up?" he was trying to invent some excuse "I do not want to disturb him."
"Got up half an hour ago, I heard the door." Grace had compassion and added, "Don't worry, I will be with you."
XXX
Aramis was at the foot of the stairs and tried to calm down. In fact, Aramis was not afraid of being hit by Athos, but of betraying Athos' trust. For those two weeks he found out that Athos loves Grace, so much. And although she has become a woman, Athos still sees her as his little cousin, or rather a sister and therefore he wants to protect her.
Aramis looked at Gracelyn, who was coming with him as promised. She smiled at him. He loved this smile of her. In that moment he knew, that it is worth for the potential blow from Athose. But perhaps I will avoid it, he thought when they entered into the dining room where they heard the sounds.
"Good morning." Gracelyn spoke first with a singsong voice, along with Aramis stood still in the doorway.
"Good morning." Athos answered, in the meantime when unwrapping the bag. "Breakfast will not be very big, there are not much more food. We have to go to the village, as you said." finally raised his head and frowned when he saw that the two are still standing on the site.
"What is happening?" Athos turned to Aramis, who was quiet. Very unusually quiet. Aramis already was going to tell him everything, but in that moment the sound of heavy steps came from the stairs.
"G'morning." Porthos greeted, passed Gracelyn and Aramis and sat down to the table.
"Morning." Aramis recovered and sat down next to him.
"Aramis?" Athos asked again.
"What? No, nothing happens." Aramis tried to sound as normal as he could, decided to wait for a better opportunity. Athos was looking doubtfully, but let it be. Grace on the contrary, was surprise and she looked at Aramis, who was obstinately staring at his plate. The moment she thought that, tells it Athosovi herself, but said herself can wait. She knew that Athos might not be excited, but really did not think that he would particularly scream, or pounch Aramis. He had always been a bit allergic to her boyfriends, but now she is an adult and in addition, Aramis is his friend.
"Good morning." D'artagnan interrupted her reflections when walked into the room. All mumbled in response and continued eating.
"I am going to the village." Grace announced, and went to the entrance.
"What about your breakfast?" Aramis called out. He hoped she is not not angry. He had planned to say it Athos just when will be a better opportunity.
"I am not hungry." Grace replied and went on.
"Wait a minute." D'artagnan called and went to her. "I am going with you. I too do not have hunger ." He knew they are safe here, but before went away from Paris, they four have agreed that will not leave her alone and, in addition, at least he had the opportunity to get to know her better.
"Great." Grace said delightedly and called to the others. "We will be back in two hours!" did not wait for the answer and they both went out.
"You do not mind walking, do you? It's not far and the way is quite pleasant."
"I do not mind. I grew up on a farm, walk does not do problems to me." D'artagnan assured her.
"On the farm? And where?" Grace was interested in. She likes farms. She knew, namely, that the work is demanding here and money is not much, but she liked the idea to live far away from the city, in the serenity of rural life.
"In Gascony. I lived there with my father. He is dead now. He was killed a year ago." Although it was a year after his father died, d'Artagnan still felt overwhelming sadness any time on it thought.
"I am sorry. I didn't want to remind you." Grace sounded apologetic. Although her father died only five years ago she did not feel exactly sadness over his loss. For Grace, he has ceased to be the father in the day when he left her, but Gracelyn still remembered what it is like to lose mother.
"You haven't to apologize. You did not know." D'artagnan smiled at her. "Do you want me to tell you how we managed to get the cardinal to his knees?"
"What did you do?" Grace gasped.
"You heard well." he assured her, and laughed over her surprise.
"Oh yeah!" Gracelyn said enthusiastically. "Go ahead!"
XXX
When Gracelyn and d'Artagnan arrived back to the house, both of them were still laughing. Not only d'Artagnan said his story, but Grace added a few stories from England. The merrier ones. It was a calm and relaxed journey. They went inside and no one was in sight, in addition to Aramis.
"Could you please take this food into the pantry?" Gracelyn asked d'Artagnan. "It is in the kitchen, you cannot miss it."
"Sure."
"So?" Grace turned to Aramise, who was obviously waiting there. "Where are the others?"
"In the garden, looking around." Aramis said. Then again opened his mouth, but before he spoke Grace asked.
"I am guessing you did not tell him anything."
"No, I did not." Aramis looked a little remorseful.
"We do not need to rush, but I'd rather tell him, before he learns otherwise. I can do it herself."
"No. I want to do it, I just don't know how. Hello Athos, my friend, hey I just wanted to mention, I slept with your cousin. What is it?" Aramis asked with a puzzled, when Grace wildly looked behind him .
Gracelyn just nodded with head and Aramis turned around. D'artagnan stood there and staring at them. Aramis had completely forgotten about him.
"D'artagnan?" Grace spoke first.
"I've heard nothing." he replied and left. When he went to the mews, to check on the horses, d'Artagnan thought that they are actually a cute couple. Then made up his mind, that must be there when Athos learns this, because something like this cannot be missed.
XXX
Days went by and Aramis was realizing how much Grace matters to him. They still said nothing to Athos, and Grace did not urge more. They were careful, but after every moment, which he spent with her, he felt guiltier. But at any time he was with Gracelyn again, knew that he would not change this moments for anything in the world.
Aramis had not forgotten why they actually arrived here. They all were still waiting for a letter from Paris, and so he decided that he tell Athos everything when they resolved Addington.
It has been two weeks since they arrived. It was raining evening. They all sat in the living room and enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace. No one spoke, enjoying a silence of the calm evening.
"Why do you trust him so much?" Athos spoke.
"What?" Gracelyn was confused when Athos cast his eyes on her.
"I mean the servant. Henry. I understand that he told you about Addington's plans, but why do you believe that he is coming?" Athos explained. He has long thought about it and he was not alone. Four musketeers turned to Grace. She looked very uncomfortable. For some time said nothing, but finally sighed and began to speak. Gracelyn waited all the time when this occurs.
"He saved me." She whispered, her head down. Aramis tensed. Guessing that goes about scars. He asked Grace a few days ago about that, but she did not say very much. He knew Addington caught her and wanted to know where she had hidden his contract, but nothing more. He did not know how she fled, nor how long was there, but he did not want to urge.
"What do ya mean?" Porthos asked as the first.
"Addington caught me, after I had cheated him. Plans had been safe, but Lord wanted them back." tears shined in her eyes when she lifted her head and looked at Athos. "And he was determined to find it out."
"He tortured you." Athos gripped fists. Many times was thinking about what she had experienced in England, but to hear that Gracelyn was tortured. It drove anger into his veins. Grace just nodded and looking back into the flames.
"Then Henry came and got me from there. Risked his own life." Gracelyn looked at Athose again. "This is reason why I trust him."
"I am going to sleep." she got up and quickly wiped her eyes with hand. "Good night."
Aramis wanted to get up and run for her. Tell her she is safe now. But didn't want to attract so much attention to himself. Just this time Aramis did not want to explain anything to Athos. When he lay in bed a few hours later, the door opened and Grace lay down next to him, Aramis objected nothing, hugged her and they were together until the morning.
Spoiler for the next chapter: Noose around Addington's neck is tightening!